Synthesis, structure and DNA binding studies of 1,4-bis((4-nitrophenoxy)methyl)benzene and its reduction derivative

The dinitrocompound, 1,4-bis((4-nitrophenoxy)methyl)benzene (NMB) and its derivative 1,4-bis((4-aminophenoxy)methyl)benzene (AMB), a potential monomer for polymeric materials have been synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectral studies. AMB was also characterized by single crystal analysis as the monoclinic space group C2/c with unit cell parameters a = 40.858(6) Å, b = 5.4606(8) Å, c = 7.7741(15) Å; α = 90°, β = 100.471(7)°, γ = 90° and Z = 4. The molecule is located on a centre of inversion and the water molecule on a twofold rotation axis. The cyclic voltammetric (CV) investigations showed the precursor and its amino-analogue to be strong ds.DNA binder and replication quencher. The threading intercalation mode of binding is proposed on the basis of positive peak potential shift and molecular structures.